Book support



Sept. 27, 1932.

J. RAMAGE BOOK SUPPORT Filed Oct. 9, 1950 VE/Y 70/? 4 4917f Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNHTED STATES BOOK surronr l Application filed October 9, 1930. send no. 487,444. 7

This invention relates to a structure that is designed to be rested across the arms of a chair or placed on a bed for supporting a book in position for convenient reading.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and attractive device of this character having the back rest or book holding shelf so mounted on a supporting base board that the shelf may be swung to various positions and tilted to anyv desired angle to bring the book within easy range of the eyes of the user. A further object is to so construct the fittings that the shelf may be inverted and employed as a writing surface, and that smokers accessories may be applied for handy service.

In attaining this'end the book shelf is angularly adjustable on the upper end of a post which is rotatably and removably fitted into a socket at the end of an arm that is pivotally and detachably fastened to the base board. When the device is to be used for supporting a book the post is set into the socket in the end of the swinging arm, and

when it is desired to provide a writing survation.

face the end of an adjusting screw which connects the shelf and the post, is set into the socket in the arm. To position the shelf for either reading or writing, the arm is swung so as to carry the shelf to the required locality, and the adjusting means manipulated to give the required inclination to the shelf.

11 the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 shows a plan of the device. F ig. 2 is a frontele- Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig.4 is a side elevation with the shelf arranged for holding a book. Fig. 5 is a side elevation with the shelf reversed for writing purposes. Fig. 6 is a side view on larger scale of the fitting that is fastened to the back of the shelf. Fig. 7 is a plan of the swinging arm that is attached to the base board. Fig. 8 is a side view of the end of the arm.

The supporting base 1 is of sufficient length and width to conveniently rest across the arms of a chair or form a substantial support when placed on a bed. This base is preferably made of wood, although it may be made of other material, and it is finished or decorated according to taste. Fastened to ithe upper surface of the base shown'are two plates 2 that have; upwardly extending threaded studs?) turning on which are thumb nuts 4. Arms 5 are pivotally mountedon the studs so that they 'may be swung to 55 Various P IIS and then fastened byth -thumb nuts,

In the swinging ends of the arms are sockets 6.

- The bookshelf 7 is desirably made a the same material as the base and it has a ledge .6 8 along one edge. Fastened to the back of the-shelf is a plate 9. Hinged between ears 10 at the upperend of this :plate is a post 11, and hinged between ears 12 at the lower end of the plate is a screw 13. 6 5

This screw extends through an opening in the post and on the inside has a nut 14 and on the outside a nut 15. The angular relation of the shelf to the post is determined by adj usting the nuts 14: and'15 on the screw 13. .70

When the device is wanted for supporting a book the post 11 is set into the socket 6 at the end of the swinging arm 5. In this case the ledge 8 is at the bottom of the shelf in position to support a book, as illustrated in Fig. 4. When it is desired to provide a writing surface the end of the screw 13 isset into the socket in the arm, as shown in Fig. 5, the arm is swung to bring the shelf to the desired locality over the base and then the arm is v clamped. The post turns in the arm so that the shelf when located will properly face the user, and the adjusting means are manipulated to give the required inclination to the shelf. ,85 With this construction the shelf is capable W of oblique adjustment, rotatory adjustment, and oscillatory adjustment, for the purpose of presenting its surface in the most convenient position with relation to the eyes of the user, whether arranged for reading or writing. The arm carrying the shelf may be set on either of the fixed studs, if two are provided as illustrated, and on the other stud there may be placed an arm carrying a smok- 5 ers article such, for instance, as an ash tray 16 and match box 17. The shelf may be lifted from the base, the post readily withdrawing from the arm, for storing away or packing for shipment. ,lQ

The invention claimed is:

1. A book support comprising a base board, a stud extending upward from the top of the base board, an arm pivoted on said stud, a shelf, a post hinged to the shelf, and a screw hinged to the shelf and adjustably connected with the post for adjusting the inclination of said shelf, said post and said screw being shaped so that either may be rotatably connected with said arm.

2. A book support comprising-a base board, a stud extending upward from the top of the base board, an arm pivoted on and detachably fastened to said stud, a post removably supported by said arm, a shelfhinged to said 'post, ascrew hinged to the shelf and extending through the post, and means turning on the screw and co-acting with the post for adj usting and locking the shelf in the desired inclination with relation to the post.

3. A book support comprising a base board, I

a stud extending upward from the top of the, base board, an arm pivoted onsaid stud, a shelf, a post hinged to the shelf, and means hinged to the shelf and adjustably connected with the post for adj listin the inclination of said shelf, said post and said adjusting means being shaped so that either may be rotatably connected with said arm.

JAMES RAMAGE. 

